James Cuno is president and CEO of the Getty Trust. Before participating in a panel on whether the arts make us better people, he talked about his love of graham crackers and the Red Sox and told us which piece of the Getty’s collection he’d like to take home in the Zócalo green room.
Where do you go to be alone?
I stay home.
If you could choose any artist to paint your portrait, who would it be?
Van Dyck, I would say.
Who or what do you root for?
The Boston Red Sox.
What weapon would you choose in a zombie apocalypse?
Butter.
What piece of art from the Getty would you most like to take home?
A fantastic portrait of a woman by Cézanne—a weary woman.
What food are you most likely to binge on?
Graham crackers.
What would you choose as your theme song?
“Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”—the Monty Python version.
Where would we find you at 10 a.m. on a typical Saturday morning?
At home, reading the paper. Or the farmers market in Santa Monica on Arizona.
How did you get into trouble as a child?
God, I don’t really think I ever got into trouble as a child. I say that with all honesty.
Do you have a favorite plant or flower?
No: I don’t know one plant from another. I couldn’t even come up with a name either way.